Stepping St Michael’s Way

On 7th May Janet McEwan led a walk for Tough Dough of St Michael’s Way:

Pictured below is the launch at St Uny Church:

Animated Films made by schools for Stepping St Michael’s Way

Three of the four films to be made with Tough Dough as part of the ‘Stepping St Michael’s Way’ community art project. Schools and communities will create animated films to promote learning and appreciation of this historic route.

The film was made by St Uny CofE School. Research was developed with Michelle Brown and St Ives Archive Centre. Tough Dough planned activities with the children at St Ives Archive Centre, a walk along the Way at Trencrom, followed by art and film making workshops at the school.

Lizzie Black from Tough Dough tells us that the project is about:

‘Bringing communities together to celebrate the heritage themes behind this pilgrim route.’

Tough Dough and Friends of St Michael’s Way will celebrate this vibrant route with its historic and natural landmarks. St Michael’s Way is a 12.5 mile / 19.5 km which stretches from Hayle Estuary to Mount’s Bay in West Cornwall.

Schools and communities will create animated films to promote learning and appreciation of this historic route.

Activities will include art and filming workshops, walks, talks, tea treats and film screenings. The aims are to promote health and wellbeing, involve creativity and provide opportunities to engage in the cultural arts. The project will raise the awareness of the heritage themes and cultivate a ‘sense of place’ whilst connecting us with other continents.

The project is supported by a £24,000 National Lottery grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Nerys Watts, Head of HLF South West, said: “Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, the stories, sights and heritage treasures of St Michael’s Way are set to be revealed and celebrated. We’re pleased to support this creative project which will enable people of all ages to follow in the steps of the local and international figures who have used the route throughout history.”

The project will commence in September 2017 and finish in July 2018 and take place in villages and communities along the route.

Tough Dough will be working with FofStMW Friends of St Michael’s Way (FofStMW) whose aim is to preserve and promote the StMW footpath both regionally and beyond.

Participants will include community groups, schools, volunteers, artist Janet McEwan, writer Annamaria Murphy and historian Professor Michelle Brown as project advisor. She is passionate about St Michael’s Way and will provide the project with relevant historical background.

Artist Janet McEwan will organise a specialist walk and a public walk developing an alternative companion publication of St Michael’s Way.

The yearlong project will end with a spectacular red carpet event, exhibition and celebration involving all the schools and communities that have worked on the project.

About the Heritage Lottery Fund

Thanks to National Lottery players, we invest money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about – from the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife. www.hlf.org.uk. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #HLFsupported